Helen Ranger

I wasn't born an African, but became one after years of living in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2004 I moved to the other end of the continent and lived in Fez, Morocco, for 16 years. I now live in south-western France. I'm a freelance travel writer and have contributed to lots of Lonely Planet guidebooks, mostly to African countries including South Africa, Morocco, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. I also contributed to the latest Fodor's Essential Morocco.

In 2023, I wrote Lonely Planet's Pocket Marrakesh and contributed to their Morocco and France guidebooks.

I've contributed sections to many Lonely Planet coffee table books including

The Food Lover's Guide to the World, Wine Trails, Food Trails, World's Best Drinks, World's Best Bowl Foods, Secret Marvels, The Joy of Wild Swimming and Guide to Life, as well as various magazines and websites.

In a former life, I also wrote:

Everybody's Aromatherapy (Tafelberg)